A neurobiological correlate of stress-induced nicotine-seeking behavior among cigarette smokers

Stress is known to influence smoking relapse. Experimental studies indicate that acute stress increases nicotine-seeking behavior, yet neurobiological mechanisms remain poorly understood. Herein, we investigated disrupted excitatory neural activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) as a mechanism of stress-induced nicotine-seeking behavior. Non-treatment-seeking cigarette smokers were screened for psychiatric, medical, and neuroimaging contraindications. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized crossover design, participants (N = 21) completed two oral-dosing sessions: stress (yohimbine 54 mg + hydrocortisone 10 mg) vs placebo (lactose 54 mg + lactose 10 mg). During each experimental session, working memory proficiency, dlPFC excitatory neural activity, nicotine-seeking behavior, and subjective effects were measured. dlPFC excitatory neural activity was quantified via glutamate modulation during working memory performance using functional proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Nicotine-seeking behavior was assayed using a cigarette puffs vs money choice progressive ratio task. Results indicated that yohimbine + hydrocortisone evoked a sustained physiological stress response (elevated heart rate, blood pressure, saliva cortisol, and saliva α-amylase levels; ps < .05). Relative to placebo levels, acute stress increased nicotine-seeking behavior (ps < .05), disrupted dlPFC glutamate modulation (p = .025), and impaired dlPFC function (working memory proficiency; ps < .05). The stress-induced increase in nicotine-seeking behavior was linearly related to the stress-induced disruption of dlPFC glutamate modulation (R²  = 0.24-0.37; ps < .05). These findings suggest that disrupted dlPFC excitatory neural activity is a neurobiological correlate of acute stress-induced nicotine-seeking behavior. These findings further emphasize the central role of the dlPFC in regulating drug-seeking behavior. Future studies are needed to evaluate interventions to improve dlPFC resilience to acute stress effects, including neurostimulation, working memory training, and "anti-stress" medications.